Anand runs out of steam and luck, Carlsen wins big

Kolkata : Viswanathan Anand ran out of steam and got eliminated from the Grand Chess tour, getting just one point in the last five games of the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz tournament, which concluded here on Tuesday.

Magnus Carlsen finished the tournament with a whopping 27 points and broke his own record in the Grand chess tour, bettering his 26.5 points scored at Abidjan, Ivory Coast earlier this year.

The Norwegian was not at his best on the final day, but still came up with some exemplary victories to win by a huge four-point margin over Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, who finished second with 23 points in all.

Such was Carlsen's dominance that the tied players on third place – Anish Giri of Holland and Wesley So of the United States -- scored only 18.5 points – a good 8.5 points less than the champion.

Ding Liren of China finished fifth on 18 points and the sixth place was taken by a resurgent Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia.

A full point behind was Anand, on seventh with 16 points, while the Indian duo of Gujrathi and Harikrishna ended in tied eighth spot on 14.5 points each.

Levon Aornian of Armenia ended at the last spot and even this was enough to seal a berth to London. Anand, who turns 50 next month, missed the Grand Chess tour finale by a whisker.

Final Standings: 1. Magnus Calrsen (Nor, 27) 2. Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 23); 3-4. Wesley So (Usa), Anish Giri (Ned) 18.5 each; 5. Ding Liren (Chn, 18); 6. Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus, 17); 7. V Anand (Ind, 16), 8-9. P Harikrishna, Vidit Gujrathi (Ind, 14.5) 10. Levon Aronian (Arm, 13).